Amazon is one of the largest employers in the United States, including in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Over the last few years, the company has drawn major scrutiny regarding workplace safety—especially in its warehouses. According to a report from CNET, Amazon is facing another round of inquiries following a series of worker fatalities in its distribution centers. In this blog post, our Fresno workers’ comp attorney provides a more detailed overview of the report about workplace safety failures at Amazon warehouse facilities.
Four Amazon Warehouse Workers Died in Separate Incidents Over a Three-Week Period
Over the past several years, Amazon has dramatically expanded its warehouse facilities. The company hired hundreds of thousands of new employees—including many in Central California. Unfortunately, there are very serious public health and safety concerns over the training, pace, and overall conditions within the company’s distribution centers. Between July 13th, 2022, and August 4th, 2022, four Amazon warehouse workers were killed in separate incidents at facilities across the country. Here is an overview of what happened:
- A 42-year-old warehouse employee suffered a heart attack while working in fast-paced conditions during Prime Day at a facility in New Jersey;
- Another Amazon warehouse worker in New Jersey was killed in a separate incident at a different facility on the same day after striking his head when falling off of a ladder;
- An Amazon warehouse worker was killed in a forklift accident at a facility in Central Pennsylvania; and
- A fourth Amazon warehouse worker was killed in a yet unexplained workplace incident in early August.
All four of the deaths are currently being investigated by officials at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Notably, this is not the first time that Amazon has been involved in an OSHA investigation. Earlier this year, OSHA opened up a comprehensive workplace safety investigation into the company.
Amazon has Acknowledged Worker Safety Problems at its Warehouse Facilities
Although the company has denied many of the allegations raised against it, Amazon has acknowledged that there are workplace safety issues in its warehouse facilities. The data is clear: Amazon warehouse workers are injured at rates that are significantly higher than at other comparable companies. The company also acknowledges that many of its warehouse workers are hit within the first six months of employment—with musculoskeletal issues being one of the leading causes of warehouse worker injuries at the company.
Schedule a Completely Confidential Consultation With a Fresno Workers’ Comp Lawyer
As a workers’ compensation lawyer with extensive experience, Joseph C. Yrulegui is dedicated to protecting the legal rights and financial interests of clients. If you or your loved one was hurt on the job while working in an Amazon warehouse, we are here as a resource. Call us now or connect with us online to arrange your confidential case review. Attorney Yrulegui provides representation to plaintiffs in workers’ compensation claims in Fresno and throughout the entire surrounding area.